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Contents

Location and Overview

Politics

History

Cities and administrative divisions

Education and Infrastructure

External links

Natives

References

Location and Overview

'Anambra' is a state in south-central Nigeria. Together with Imo and Abia States it constitutes the Heart of Igboland. It has one of the highest population densities in Africa.In fact, the stretch of about 60KM between surroundings of Onitsha to Uli town contains a cluster of numerous thickly populated villages and small towns giving the area an estimated density of 1500-2000 persons living within every square kilometer of the area. They are Igbo, and most of the population being overwhelmingly rural. However, over the last two decades the rural Urban exodus has strained the meagre urban services to breaking point. This pattern of human migration has posed serious problems to undue pressure on the state's resources, fragile infrastructure, environmental sanitation, erosion control and social services. This pressure is especially evident in its huge commercial city of Onitsha. Potable water, electricity and decent housing for the residents of Onitsha have become a luxury. The state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State to the north. Anambra is rich in natural gas, crude oil, bauxite, ceramics and almost 100 percent arable soil. Most of its natural resources remain largely untapped.

Politics

The state governor since 2003 has been Dr. Chris Ngige, but he was removed in March 2006 when the Court of Appeal in Enugu asserted that his election victory in 2003 was rigged.^[1] He was succeeded by Peter Obi, who in turn was ousted by a faction of the Anambra State House of Assembly on November 2, 2006 and replaced by Virginia Etiaba.^[2] On February 9, 2007 Mrs. Etiaba handed power back to Obi after the Court of Appeal had nullified Obi's removal.^[3]
The state has experienced political turmoil over the past several years, which includes an attempted coup against the government in 2003.
On June 14, 2007 the Supreme Court of Nigeria removed Governor Andy Uba from office and replaced him with his predecessor Peter Obi—citing an illegality in Governor Uba's election on April 14, 2007. [1]

History

Old Anambra State was created in 1976 from part of East Central State, and its capital was Enugu. A further re-organisation in 1991 divided Anambra into two states, Anambra and Enugu. The capital of Anambra is Awka.

Cities and administrative divisions

The main towns of Anambra state are Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Ogidi, Obosi, Ihiala, Aguata, Uli, Abagana, Alor, Atani, Nkpor, Eziowelle,Oba,Ojoto,Ichi,Oraifite,Ozubulu, Umuawulu, Umuoji, Umunachi, Umudioka, Unubi, Umunya, Umuleri, Aguleri, Igbukwu, Ichida, Akwaukwu, Uke, Ukpo, Okija, Oraukwu, Otu-ocha, Nnobi, Ideani, Adazi Nnukwu, Adazi Enu, Adazi Ani, Nanka, Nneni, Nmiata-Anam, Awkuzu, and Ichida. There are 21 local government areas in the state:

★ Aguata

★ Awka North

★ Anambra

★ Anambra West

★ Anaocha

★ Awka South

★ Ayamelum

★ Dunukofia

★ Ekwusigo

★ Idemili South

★ Idemili North

★ Ihiala

★ Njikoka (where the Biafra War ended)

★ Nnewi North

★ Nnewi South

★ Ogbaru

★ Ojoto The town after oba. its also before Ichi town which is next to Nnewi

★ Onitsha North

★ Onitsha South

★ Orumba North

★ Orumba South

★ Oyi

Education and Infrastructure

'Awka', the state capital is also the centre of Nigeria's metalwork and carving industries. Educationally, there are the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, the Anambra State University formerly known as Anambra State University of Science and Technology (ASUTECH) Uli, the Federal Polytechnic in Oko, Nwafor Orizu University of Education, Nsugbe formerly known as the Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe. The College of Agriculture, Igbariam. Now incorporated into the Agricultural sciences campus of the state university. Literacy rate in the state is comparatively high, and abundant qualified personnel can be found in virtually all areas of endeavour. Hundreds of excellent primary and secondary schools exist in the cities and towns of the state. Primary and secondary school enrollment in the state is one of the highest in the country. Consequently, Anambra state has the highest number of JAMB candidates going after the limited number of spaces in Nigeria's tertiary colleges.

External links

'Government of Anambra State Website': http://www.anambra.gov.ng/

Natives

Anambra state is also the home state of many prominent Nigerians including:

★ Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, The First President of Nigeria

★ Prof. Chinua Achebe, Critically acclaimed author

★ Nwafor Orizu, First Senate President of Nigeria.

★ Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, Second Republic Vice President of Nigeria

★ Emeka Ojukwu, The President of the defunct Republic of Biafra

★ P.N. Okeke-Ojiudu, Nigerian Politician and Businessman

★ Cardinal Arinze, Roman Catholic Cardinal

★ Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi, Priest and Beatified Christian Monk

★ Dr. Pius Okigbo, Distinguished economist

★ Philip Njoku Emeagwali, Computer scientist

★ Dr Chuba Okadigbo, Former Senate President of Nigeria

★ Christopher Okigbo, Poet

★ Charles C.Soludo, CBN Governor

References

1. Ngige out, Obi in as Anambra gov
2. Anambra: How Etiaba Became Governor
3. Obi Floors Lawmakers - Take Over From Etiaba